(Notes #21)
The Glories of Srimati Radharani
On the auspicious occasion of Radhastami 2009, we've compiled the following quotes from Srila Prabhupada's teachings:
"In Vrindavana all the pure devotees pray for the mercy of Srimati Radharani, the pleasure potency of Lord Krishna. Srimati Radharani is a tenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme whole, resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly feminine nature. Therefore, the mercy of Radharani is available very readily to the sincere devotees, and once She recommends such a devotee to Lord Krishna, the Lord at once accepts the devotee's admittance into His association. The conclusion is, therefore, that one should be more serious about seeking the mercy of the devotee than that of the Lord directly, and by one's doing so (by the good will of the devotee) the natural attraction for the service of the Lord will be revived."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23, Purport)
"Radharani is presented, the original pleasure potency, always absorbed in thought of Krishna. So anyone who comes before Radharani to serve Krishna, oh, She becomes so pleased, 'Oh, here is a devotee of Krishna.' She immediately recommends, 'Krishna, oh, here is a devotee. He is better than Me.' This is Radharani. I may be a, not devotee. I may be most fallen rascal. But if I try to reach Krishna through Radharani, then my business is successful. Therefore we should worship Radharani first. That is our business. Instead of offering directly one flower to Krishna, you just put it in the hands of Radharani: 'My mother Radharani, Jagan-mata, if you kindly take this flower and offer it to Krishna.' 'Oh,' Radharani says, 'Oh, you have brought a flower?' Krishna said, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayaccati (Bg. 9.26), but don't try to offer Krishna directly. Just offer through Radharani. It will be very much appreciated by Radharani."
(Srila Prabhupada lecture, London, September 5, 1973)
"So we should offer puspanjali and pray to Radharani that 'Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Your Krishna. To Your Krishna. Krishna is Yours.' Krishna, Radha-Krishna. Krishna is not independent. Krishna is Radharani's property. So you have to approach Krishna through Radharani."
(Srila Prabhupada lecture, London, September 5, 1973)
"In Radharani is found the science of ujjala, or the brightest jewel of love of God."
(Krishna Book, Chapter 47)
"Lord Krishna enchants the world, but Sri Radha enchants even Him. Therefore She is the supreme goddess of all."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi, 4.95-98)
"Krsna attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts even Krsna. The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Radharani. Krsna is called Madana-mohana, which means that He is so attractive that He can defeat the attraction of thousands of Cupids. But Radharani is still more attractive, for She can even attract Krsna. Therefore devotees call Her Madana-mohana-mohani -- the attractor of the attractor of Cupid."
(The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 1)
"Krsna is known as Madana-mohana, the enchanter of Cupid, but Srimati Radharani is the enchanter of Krsna. Consequently Srimati Radharani is called Madana-mohana-mohini, the enchanter of the enchanter of Cupid."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 13.150, Purport)
"It is very simple. Hare means, 'O energy of the Lord,' and Krsna means, 'O Lord Krsna.' Just as there are males and females in the material world, similarly, God is the original male (purusa), and His energy (prakriti) is the original female. So, when we chant Hare Krsna, we are saying, 'O Lord Krsna, O energy of Krsna, kindly engage me in Your service.'"
(Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 1)
"The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Radharani."
(The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 1)
"Spiritual happiness is anandambudhi-vardhanam, or the ocean of happiness which increases. The material ocean is stagnant, but the spiritual ocean is dynamic. In the Caitanya-caritamrta, (Adi-lila, Fourth Chapter) Kaviraja Gosvami has very nicely described this dynamic increment of the ocean of spiritual happiness in the transcendental person of Srimati Radharani, the pleasure potency of Lord Krsna."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 2.6.36, Purport)
"Srila Bilvamangala Thakur has prayed in his book as follows: 'Let Srimati Radharani purify the whole world, because She has surrendered Herself completely unto Krsna.'"
(The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 29)
"Radha is one who gives pleasure to Govinda, and She is also the enchantress of Govinda. She is the be-all and end-all of Govinda, and the crest jewel of all His consorts."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi 4.82)
"Regarding your question about our relationship with Srimati Radharani, She is the internal energy, we are marginal energy. Marginal means sometimes internal, sometimes external. When we are under the internal energy, that is our normal life, and when we are under the external energy, that is our abnormal life."
(Srila Prabhupada letter, April 25, 1969)
"Krishna is attractive to everyone, even He is attractive to Cupid, Madana. Madana is attractive in the material world, and He is Madana-mohana. And Radharani is Madana-mohana-mohini, means She attracts even the Madana-mohana. Therefore Krishna is trying to understand, 'What is there in Radharani that She attracts? I attract the whole universe, and She attracts Me."
(Srila Prabhupada lecture, Mayapur, March 30, 1975)
"Srimati Radharani is the center of all Vrindavana's activities. In Vrindavana, Krishna is the instrument of Srimati Radharani; therefore all the inhabitants of Vrindavana still chant 'Jaya Radhe!' From Krishna's own statement given herein, it appears that Radharani is the Queen of Vrindavana and that Krishna is simply Her decoration."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 13.150, Purport)
These are just a few of the many quotes from Srila Prabhupada which enable us to understand Krishna consciousness through the mercy of Srimati Radharani, Krishna's eternal consort. While imploring the mercy of Radharani, we're always conscious of our indebtedness to Srila Prabhupada for opening our eyes to the proper understanding in spiritual life:
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
"I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him."
